House told to discuss leave for VIPs

House told to discuss leave for VIPs

JAKARTA: Vice President Hamzah Haz has referred the issue of whether or not the president and vice president should be allowed to go on leave to the House of Representatives for consideration.

Asked whether the state's top two leaders needed to go on leave, he referred to other countries that permit holidays for their country's top political leaders.

"We better follow the practice if other countries are doing so, but if (they do) not, of course we also won't follow it," Hamzah said.

But, he added, if one of them is on leave, the other will not be allowed to do so to ensure the smooth running of the administration. However, he noted that this would start with the next set of leaders. "This is for the next leadership and not for the incumbent," he said.

Hamzah was responding to a statement by President Megawati on whether or not the president and vice president should take leave. -- Antara